Support for bowling alley masking units



"N @aime Oct. 18, 1949. R. ANDERSON ErAl. v 2,485,347

SUIPORT FOR BOWLING ALLEY MASKING UNITS Filed March 12, .194/ s sheets-'sheet 1 5 INN LL- v N' ly-.Wu l@ w l Nl x Filad March 12, 1947 R. l. ANDERSON ET AL SUPPORT FOR BOWLING ALLEY IASKING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 patented ct. 1.8, 1949 2.485,34? SUPPORT Fon BOWLING ALLEY MAsKING UNITS Robert I. Anderson,

Grand Haven, and Bert Hocker, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. 734,100

This invention relates to a support for a masking unit adaptable for use in conjunction with bowling alleys wherein a masking unit is located at the rear or pin end of the alley. The maskingA Another object of the invention is to providev an improved support for `a masking unit that is quite simple in construction and that may be easily adjusted so that the masking unit will be supported in any desired position, preferably in a vertical position.

A further object of the invention is to provide adjustable stop means against which the masking unit rests by gravity.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pair of masking units constituting a unitary assembly and the support for the masking units wherein each unit is supported independently of the other.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the masking units and the support shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3'is a side elevation of a masking unit and 4the support therefor. l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the top portion of the support for a masking unit.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hinge of a hinged bracing member used in the support.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the bracing member shown in Fig. 5 with portions broken away.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a stop member against which the masking unit rests.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the stop member of Fig. 7.

While there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein a structure embodying this invention, it is to be understood that`the same is not limited to the specific form or application disclosed, and that it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an adjacent pair of bowling alleys I are provided with masking units II with. one masking unit being above each alley.

Claims. (Cl. 273-54) pipe 2l as by welding 23.

Between the two alleys, as shown in Fig. 2, there is provided a raised portion I2 at the rear of the alleys, and the opposite sides of the pair of alleys are provided with ball return gutters I3 having their rear ends raised to substantially the same height as the raised portion I2. On either side of each alley I0 there are located ball gutters I4. Each masking unit I I has a decorative front surface and is provided with an electric lamp I5 and a reector structure I6 so that light may be directed down upon the pins. In the embodiment shown, the central portion Il of each masking unit is solid While the space on either side thereof is provided with substantially parallel sloped slats I8 so spaced that a pin-boy behind the masking unit can look between the slats and see when a ball is coming. The remainder of the masking unit is made solid.

Each masking Lmit is rotatably supported on a substantially horizontal pipe I9 located behind the masking units and above their centers of gravity. The masking units are provided with rear plates 20 having holes therein engaging the pipe I 9 so that each masking unit will be rotatablysupported on the pipe. Each masking unit isA provided with two of these plates, with each plate being positioned near an edge of the masking unit.

The horizontal pipe I9 is supported by spaced post members or support pipes 2| with the bottom end of each support pipe being rotatably mounted on the side of the raised portion I'2 or the side of the raised portion of the ball return gutter I3. The upper end of the support pipe 2| extends to a point adjacent the horizontal pipe I9. This upper end is provided Vwith a telescoped auxiliary pipe 22 attached to the top end of the support The upper end of the auxiliary pipe 22 is provided with a yoke assembly 24 adapted to be held around the horizontal pipe I9 and clamped thereto by a pair of bolts 25. That portion of the yoke assembly 24 that extends around the pipe I 9 is preferably provided with a rubber liner `25. The support pipe 2| is sloped from its bottom end toward the masking units II and as it has its bottom end rotatably attached toa base and its upper end rotatably attachedto the pipe I9 it may be adjusted so as to vary its angle with the horizontal.

The supportpipe 2| is braced by a bracing pipe 2l having its rear end rotatably attached to the same base to which the support pipe 2I is attached and located to the rear ofthe support pipe. The bracing pipe is sloped at a greater angle than the support pipe '2| and extends to a point adjacent the support pipe. 'Ihe top portion of the bracing pipe 21 is provided with a sleeve 28 around the support pipe 2| with the sleeve being connected by a hinge 29 to the remainder of the bracing pipe 21. The sleeve 28 is provided with a set screw 3|) by means of which it may be tightly clamped to the support pipe 2|.

Immediately below the top end of the bracing pipe 21 there is located a stop member 3| comprising a sleeve 32 slidably mounted on the support pipe 2 I, a pipe 33 extending toward the bottom of the masking unit II and a cross-pipe 34 attached to the lree end of the pipe 33 and against which the bottom of the masking unit rests. The cross-pipe 34 is arranged in substantially horizontal position. The sleeve 32 is provided with a set screw 35 so that the sleeve may be locked on the support pipe 2|.

The support pipe 2|, auxiliary pipe 22, bracing pipe 21, and stop member pipe 33 are preferably arranged so that their axes lie substantially in a single vertical plane. They are so arranged that the masking unit II will bear against the stop member pipe 34 and be held in a substantially vertical position. In order to achieve this vertical arrangement, the slope of the support pipe 2 l may be adjusted by loosening the set screw 3|) on the bracing pipe sleeve 28 and arranging the support pipe 2| in the particular angular relationship desired. This will also serve to locate the masking unit II in a desired position. The set screw 35 on the stop member 3| may be loosened and the stop member moved up or down the support pipe 2| so that the masking unit II hangs exactly vertical or at any other desired position. The height of the horizontal pipe I9, and thus the height of the masking unit, may be varied by adjusting the length of the auxiliary pipe 22 outside the support pipe 2|. After this height has been determined, the auxiliary pipe 22 may be permanently attached to the support pipe 2| by welding 23.

Although the lamp I serves to direct light down on the bowling pins, additional light is often desired and this is provided by locating a lamp 33 behind the central solid portion I1 so that the light from this lamp is directed above the central portion I1. This serves to illuminate the top of the decorated masking unit as the central portion II is located in front of the main body of the masking unit, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and has its top portion open.

When access is desired to the portion of the bowling alley beneath the masking unit so that vthe alley may be polished or otherwise treated, the masking unit may be turned about the pipe I9 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The unit may be held in this position by means of a brace 31 or the like.

Each pair of alley masking units I I is provided with one narrow unit 38 located above the ball return gutter I3. Each masking unit II is locked on the horizontal pipe I9 by a pair of lock rings 39 with each lock ring located against a support plate and both rings preventing sliding movement oi the plates 2|] on the pipe I9.

We claim:

1. In combination with a bowling alley having a masking unit for the pin supporting end of the alley, a support for said masking unit comprising a substantially horizontal member, means for r0- tatably supporting the masking unit on said member at a point above the center of gravity of said unit, a base member below the horizontal member and at one side of the bowling alley, a

post member having its lower end rotatably at# tached to the base member and its upper end rotatably attached to the horizontal member, so that the angular relationship between the post member and the base member may be varied to vary the location o the masking unit relative to the bowling alley, a bracing member extending between the post member at a point intermediate its ends and the base member and slidably attached to the post member and rotatably attached to the base member on an axis of rotation that is substantially at right angles to the bracing member, said bracing member including two portions hingedly attached together on an axis substantially at right angles to the bracing member, and a stop member mounted on the post member and against which the lower portion of the masking unit rests to maintain the unit in substantially vertical position.

2. In combination with a bowling alley having a masking unit for the pin supporting end of the alley, a support for said masking unit comprising a substantially horizontal pipe, means for rotatably supporting the masking unit on said pipe at a point above the center of gravity of said unit, a base member below the horizontal pipe and masking unit and at one side of the bowling alley, a support pipe having its lower end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper` end rotatably attached to the horizontal pipe, so that the angular relationship between the pipe and the base member may be varied to vary the location of the masking unit relative to the bowling alley, said support pipe being inclined from its bottom end toward the masking unit, a bracing pipe having one end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper end slidably attached to the support pipe so as to be rotatable in substantially the same plane as'the support pipe, said bracing pipe being located on the side of the support pipe opposite the masking unit and including two portion-s hingedly attached together so as to be rotatable substantially in said plane, a stop member slidably mounted on the support pipe beneath the bracing pipe and against which the lower portion of the masking unit rests to maintain the unit in substantially vertical position, means for locking the bracing pipe on the support pipe, and means for locking the stop member on the support pipe.

3. In combination with a bowling alley having -a masking unit for the pin supporting end of the alley, a support for said masking unit comprising a substantially horizontal pipe, means for rotatably supporting the masking unit on said pipe at a point above the center of gravity of said unit, a base member below the horizontal pipe and masking unit and at one side of the bowling alley, a support pipe having its lower end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper end rotatably attached to the horizontal pipe, so that the angular relationship between the support pipe and base member may be varied to vary the location of the masking unit relative to the Vbowling alley said' support pipe being inclined from its bottom end toward the masking unit, a bracing pipe having one end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper end slidably attached to the support pipe opposite the masking unit and including two portions hingedly attached together at a point adjacent the support pipe so as to be rotatable in substantially the same plane as said support pipe, a stop member slidably mounted on the support pipe beneath the bracing pipe and including a substantially horizontal outer portion against which the lower portion of the masking unit rests to maintain the unit in substantially vertical position, means for locking the bracing pipe on the support pipe, and means for locking the stop member on the support pipe.

4. In combination with a bowling alley having a masking unit for the pin supporting end of the alley, a support for said masking unit comprising a substantially horizontal pipe, means for rotatably supporting the masking unit on said pipe at a point above the center of gravity of said unit, a base member below the horizontal pipe and masking unit and at one side of the bowling alley, a support pipe having its lower end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper end extending to a point adjacent the horizontal pipe, an auxiliary pipe telescoped within said upper end and attached thereto with its outer end rotatably attached to the horizontal pipe, said rotatable connections being erranged to permit Varying the angular relationship between the support pipe and base member, said support pipe being inclined from its bottom end toward the masking unit, a bracing pipe having one end rotatably attached to the base member and its upper end slidably attached tothe support pipe, said bracing pipe being located on the side of the support pipe'opposite the masking unit and including two portions hingedly attached together at a point adjacent the support pipe with said portions being movable in a substantially vertical plane about the hinge and on the base member, a stop member including a pipe slidably mounted on the support Vpipe beneath the bracing pipe, and having a substantially horizontal pipe section on the outer end of the stop member pipe against which the lower portion of the masking unit rests to maintain the unit in substantially vertical position, means for locking the bracing pipe on the support pipe, and means for locking the stop member pipe on the support pipe, said support pipe, auxiliary pipe, bracing pipe and Stop member pipe having axes lying substantially in a single vertical plane.

5. In a bowling alley assembly including a pair of alleys arranged adjacent and parallel to each other, a ball return gutter adjacent each edge of the assembly including a raised portion forming a base member at the pin end of the alleys, a similar raised portion forming a base member between the alleys and also at the pin end, and a masking unit above each alley at the pin end thereof, support means for the masking units comprising a substantially horizontal pipe located near the tops of said units and at the rear thereof, means for rotatably mounting each masking unit on said horizontal pipe, a support pipe for each of said base members having its lower end rotatably attached to its base members and its upper end extending to a point adjacent to but below the horizontal pipe, an -auxiliary pipe telescoped within said upper end and attached thereto with its outer end rotatably attached to the horizontal uipe, said rotatable connections being arranged to permit varying the angular relationship between the support pipe and base member, said support pipe being inclined from its bottom end toward the masking unit, a bracing pipe having one end rotatably attached to said base member and its upper end slidably attached to the support pipe, said bracing pipe being located on the side of the support pipe opposite the masking unit and including two portions hingedly attached together at a point adjacent the support pipe with said portions being movable in a substantially vertical plane about the hinge and on the base member, a stop member including a pipe slidably mounted on a support pipe beneath the bracing pipe and having a substantially horizontal pipe section on the outer end of the stop member pipe against which the lower portion of the masking unit rests to maintain the unit in substantially vertical position, means for locking the bracing pipe on the support pipe, and means for locking the stop member pipe on the support pipe, said support pipe, auxiliary pipe, bracing pipe, and stop member pipe having axes lying substantially in a single vertical plane.

ROBERT I. ANDERSON. BERT HOEKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,330,268 Cloutier Sept. 28, 1943 2,346,274 Raven Apr. ll, 1944 

